Kindness of God
“Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” (Rom. 2:4)
In the past few days, I have heard story after story of God’s amazing providence – trees which fell in the perfect location, family members which arrived home in the nick of time, parts for generators which so happened to be delivered the day before the storm. Better yet, let us simply use our eyes. We should be going to funerals today, not celebrating God’s abounding kindness. Yet, here we are. And yes, this is an act of God’s kindness. As a Presbyterian, I do not believe in chance. “Chance” does not know your name, but God does. The Heidelberg Catechism states it best: “The almighty, everywhere present power of God, whereby, as it were by His hand, He upholds heaven and earth with all creatures, and so governs them that herbs and grass, rain and drought, fruitful and barren years, meat and drink, health and sickness, riches and poverty, indeed, all things come not by chance, but by His fatherly hand.”
The question lingers though – what makes it an act of kindness? If God’s protection was something due to us, it is no longer an act of kindness; it’s an act of justice. If it was owed to us, God would be unjust if He failed to protect us. However, we all know that is not the case, for we have sinned. We all know that battering of conscience that reminds us that we have failed to live up to the perfection God requires of us. The only thing God owes us is wormwood and gall, wrath and judgment. Instead of the cool of the day, God had every right to storm into the Garden of Eden in a whirlwind of fury. However, “It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed.” (Lam. 3:22 KJV) His longsuffering, His kindness should be accounted to us as salvation.
As great and as wonderful as God’s protection has been through these storms, He has provided something greater in Jesus Christ – deliverance from eternal wrath and adoption into God’s family. Storms in life are no longer seen as the beating of war drums and the unsheathing of God’s sword; no, even the worst storms come from God’s fatherly hand. No longer is He wrathful towards us; He is kind, fatherly towards us. With all the affections of Christ in my heart, I urge you to not let this momentary deliverance be forgotten. Do not let this mercy be swallowed up by a deluge of sin. Flee with faith and repentance to Jesus Christ for a greater deliverance, a greater protection, and a greater future. Let us together give God the praise!
